Here We Go Again

Let’s go back to November 2011. Williamsburg’s season comes to an end in front of a home crowd after losing to the Hazard Bulldogs 28-0 in that year’s region championship game. Fast forward to 2012. The Yellow Jackets travel to play Hazard again with a region title on the line, this time losing narrowly by a final score of 7-0. And in 2013? It all came down to Williamsburg and Hazard again to see who would advance to the state semis. This time theJackets won, however, turning the Bulldogs away 21-7 at Rose-Stanfill Stadium.

Now here we are, about to enter round three of the 2014 state championship playoffs, and wouldn’t you know it – Williamsburg and Hazard are about to square off again for a region crown.

The Jackets pushed their record to 12-0 last week with a 55-13 win over the visiting Harlan Green Dragons. Senior running back Fred Massey had 101 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground, as well as 40 yards receiving and one TD through the air in the win. Senior quarterback Skyler Griffith threw for a total of 220 yards, including four completions for touchdowns to receivers Massey, Chase Lowrie, Zach Sanders and Corey Shelton. Shelton ended the night with 160 receiving yards, and he caught a second touchdown pass from backup QB Alec Poore.

Aaron Kissinger also had a rushing touchdown in the win, and Brently Patrick kicked a total of seven extra points.

As for Hazard (10-2), they defeated Campbellsville 47-21 to earn the right to compete in this week’s region championship contest. The win was their sixth in a row, and they have won ten of their last eleven games.

Williamsburg Head Coach Jerry Herron described them as “a well coached team who can run the ball well, and tackle well.”

“We are going to be in for a battle,” Herron added.

Much like the Yellow Jackets, the Bulldogs are retuning the core of their team this season, including senior running back Brandon Jones and sophomore quarterback Tanner Morgan.

In the game against Campbellsville, Jones rushed for 200 yards and two scores. Morgan also passed for 239 yards and four touchdowns on the night, so Williamsburg will have to be prepared to defend against both the run and pass.

It will be another cold night when the Jackets make the trip to Hazard as they look to even up the score with their old foes and win their second region title in a row. Kickoff for the game is set for 7:30 PM at Hazard High School.